TicketsCINCINNATI -- Cincinnati got contributions from every part of its lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Bearcats put up nine runs and take down the Houston Cougars, 9-6, Sunday at UC Baseball Stadium. The win clinched the series victory for the Bearcats.
Graduate pitcher Tristan Weaver (3-3) got the win out of the bullpen for Cincinnati (13-17, 3-3). The southpaw went two innings, giving up one run, allowing one walk and striking out two. Graduate pitcher Ryan Steckline also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three.
Redshirt junior outfielder Paul Komistek led the Bearcats in hits, going 3-for-5 in the ballgame with an RBI. Redshirt junior outfielder Griffin Merritt had a nice day at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Redshirt sophomore catcher Joe Powell chipped in once again, going 1-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats were trailing 3-0 in the first inning when Powell came across to score the lone run of the inning for Cincinnati and get it on the board.
The Bearcats kept the deficit at 3-1 before taking the lead in the second. Cincinnati scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from Powell, which brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Bearcats.
Cincinnati's lead had disappeared by the time the fourth inning arrived and turned into a 6-4 Houston advantage, when the Bearcats re-gained control at 7-6 thanks to a couple errors by the Cougars and an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Cole Harting.
Cincinnati kept the Cougars scoreless before building on its lead in the sixth inning. The Bearcats pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Merritt that scored Komistek and redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Nicholson, bringing the Cincinnati advantage to 9-6. The score remained 9-6 for the rest of the game, as the Bearcats held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Komistek led the Bearcats at the plate, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. His average is sitting just under .400 at .397, which leads the team.
» Powell drove in two runs with a double in the second inning. He has had two RBIs in four of his last six games and is on an 18-game on-base streak and six-game hitting streak.
» Harting had an RBI single in the fourth inning, giving him his seventh RBI of the series against Houston.
» Merritt's double in the sixth inning was his ninth of the year, which is the most on the team. The two runs driven in give him his 29th and 30th RBIs of the year. He's the first Bearcat to reach that number this season.
» Redshirt junior pitcher Jackson Murphy pitched two shutout innings in relief today. He has not allowed any earned runs in five of his last six outings.
» In his first appearance out of the bullpen this season, Weaver earned the win after throwing two innings of one-run ball in relief of freshman starter Garrett Harker.
» Redshirt freshman infielder Kerrington Cross is on a 17-game on-base streak.
» Every Cincinnati starter reached base safely in the win.
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